JOHN Hughes, the Falkirk manager, has made no secret of his desire to appear in a cup final under his stewardship, thereby building on the groundwork he has laid in recent years.
If defeat to Kilmarnock in the League Cup semi-final of January 2007 has stuck in the throat, Hughes' charges could soon go one step further after securing a Co-operative Insurance Cup last-eight place.
Steve Lovell, a summer signing from Aberdee
n, emerged as the hero last night, marking his first start for the club with his first goal to end First Division Queen of the South's brave second-half recovery.
While the Bairns may prop up the SPL table, the signs suggest they are again beginning to flower, with the evergreen Neil McCann in late bloom. The former Scotland winger endured an injury-ravaged second spell at Hearts, but after shaking off a hamstring strain, his summer switch appears to have reinvigorated the 34-year-old. Energetic and available throughout, his 29th-minute opener – a sweet left-footed volley caught on the up – capped his display.
The Bairns had passed and probed in typical style long before the breakthrough, even if Queens' Bob Harris saw an 18-yard free-kick deflected over inside two minutes.
Gordon Chisholm's team arrived with a policy to frustrate, but after Graham Barrett and Kevin McBride fired wide, the hosts struck.
Following a vast array of passes, Jackie McNamara collected the ball close to the right touch-line. The full-back's cross drifted over the head of Michael Higdon but McCann took a swift swipe with his left peg to leave Cameron Bell helpless.
If the match had the air of a training game for the hosts, that notion was soon dispelled as the Dumfries side illustrated why they graced last May's Scottish Cup final.
Just before the hour, Scott Robertson's ball down the right wasn't dealt with and Stewart Kean took full advantage to lift the ball over Robert Olejnik.
But Lovell had the last laugh, racing on to a through-ball from substitute Patrick Cregg – a run which Chisholm later claimed was offside – before coolly rounding Bell and slotting home.
Falkirk: Olejnik; McNamara, Aafjes, Barr, Scobbie; Arfield (Cregg 65), McBride, McCann; Higdon (O'Brien 70), Lovell, Barrett (M Sewart 89). Subs not used: Flinders, Bullen.
Queen of the South: Bell; Barr, Sives, Thomson, Harris; MacFarlane, Kean, Tosh, Robertson (McGowan 80), Arbuckle (Simmons 80); Dobbie. Subs not used: Halliwell, Paratt, Reid.
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